What is Irish Football?

The suspense and skill of soccer… the high scoring of basketball… the impact of rugby.

Gaelic Football is the original beautiful game, played in Ireland for centuries. It is one of few strictly amateur sports in the world and is the most popular sport in Ireland.

Cincinnati GAA belongs to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), which was established in 1884. Though most members are in Ireland, there is a growing contingent of teams in the United States.

So how do you play?

Gaelic football is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kicking or punching the ball into the other team’s goals (3 points) or between two upright posts above the goals and over a crossbar (1 point).

Players advance the football, slightly smaller but heavier than a soccer ball, up the field with a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking, hand-passing, and soloing (dropping the ball and then toe-kicking the ball upward into the hands).

As you might imagine, it’s not the easiest thing to explain without being able to see it in person. So sign up for our mailing list and come down to one of our open practices to see what its all about. You’ll be glad you did.